Chad has restored its management agreements with African Parks, the conservation organization whose board includes Britain’s Prince Harry, following a brief suspension of ties last week. The country’s environment ministry and the charity confirmed on Friday that they have resumed collaboration and begun discussions on new long-term partnership deals.
Both sides said the agreements were reinstated “with full effect” after engaging “in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation.” Negotiations are underway for continued joint management of Zakouma National Park, the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve, and the proposed Aouk project.
Under the renewed arrangement, African Parks will keep financing and co-managing protected areas in Zakouma and Ennedi while advancing the Aouk project until new agreements are finalized.
Chad had announced the termination of African Parks’ contracts last week, citing increased poaching, insufficient investment, and alleged breaches of agreement. The organization responded by calling for discussions with the government to resolve the issues.
Following the termination, the European Union’s delegation to Chad temporarily suspended the implementation of EU-funded conservation projects for at least 90 days, citing “force majeure.” The EU also requested that African Parks safeguard EU-financed assets and provide updates on negotiations with Chadian authorities.
African Parks, which manages protected areas across more than a dozen African countries, has been a key partner in Chad’s conservation efforts for over a decade.
Source:Africa Publicity
